NJDC Commends President Obama for Executive Order Prohibiting Employment Discriminiation

The National Jewish Democratic Council today commended President Obama for announcing that he will sign an executive order that would prohibit federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. At the same time, NJDC’s Executive Director, Rabbi Jack Moline, called upon Congress to follow the President’s lead and pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA),

Rabbi Moline made the following statement:

“President Obama today took a welcome, proactive step to extend workplace protections to the 28 million workers employed by federal contracts. By announcing he will sign an executive order to build upon existing protections, the President is embracing the self-evident truth that all people are created equal.

“Yet, this executive order will not reach many workers in this country who still face potential workplace discrimination due to sexual orientation or gender identity. There is no federal law prohibiting such discrimination, only 21 states have laws barring discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, and only 17 of these states include gender identity. In 2014, our nation—that holds equality to be self-evident—has a long way to go to realize this goal.

“The good news is that Congress has legislation to extend workplace protections. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act protect Americans from discrimination based upon the irrationality of prejudice. Congress needs to move forward and pass this bill so that workers are valued for the equality of their efforts rather than being judged on the basis of their sense of self.”